Reefing device



G. BEGAS REEFING DEVI CE May 6, 1924. 1,492,827

Filed May 26, 1925 Patented May 6, 1924.

n'so Ars eorrrnmn IBEGAS, or BERLIN, GERMANY.

REEFING DEVICE.

Application filed May 26, 1923. Serial No. 641,730.

useful Improvements in Reefing Devices, and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention.

The present invention relates to an improved reefing-device for sailing ships or boats or yachts and its characteristic features are to be mainly seen in that all axial and radial thrust occurring during the reefing operation, is absorbed practically with out any friction, for which purpose a casing of a ball-bearing rigidly connected with the boom, is constructed as a rope pulley. By this means it is possible to take a reef in proportionally large sails with the least effort from any place of the ship and during any position of the sail even under fullwind pressure, within a few seconds. This arrangement differs advantageously from known devices of this kind by requiring only little space and dispensing with reef levers or cranks, which latter devices are bound to cause injuries to the hands of the crew,

' when the boom is beating heavily in stormy weather and high seas.

One mode of application of the invention is illustrated in the drawings, in which Figure .1 is a'longitudinal section and partial elevation of a reefing device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross section of a locking disc;

Fig. 3 is a top view of a locking lever;

Fig. 4 is a side view of a guide ring for the operating rope, and

Fig. 5 is a detail cross section of the boom fork.

A bolt a carries on its reduced rear end a ball-bearing 6 arranged in two rows. A

member 0 serves as an outer casing or shell for the ballbearing, and is constructed as a rope pulley having flanges d. Toward the front part, that is to say in the direction of the mast, the said casing c is closed by means of a stepped plate 6, into the frontal annular extension of which oval recesses or borings f are formed. These borings are engaged by the locking lever g which can be actuated by means of a handle it. The said locking lever g is articulated to the head of a square bolt 2' passing vertically through the bolt (1, the lower end of which bolt 1' has a head is which supports astirrup Z, which latter keeps a guide ring m'in its'operative rice;

position. The bolt a is pivotallyconnected in a known manner by means of an eye a with a pin provided on the ring of the mast.

Therope pulley c, d is caused .to rotate by means of a steel wire or rope n and the free end of the latter can be passed either upwards to a pulley-block attached tothe mast, or into'the hold of the vessel, for

which purpose the guiding ring m is provided with corresponding passageso and p.

The fork g for the boom is constructed as a closing plate for the bearing towards its rear and serves forreceiving the boom' 1'. 'While the rear side of the device is 'tightly closed through the fork g, closure at the front side is effected by a leather ring 8 which is pressed against the disc'e by means of an annular disc t. The bolt (1 is provided at its top with an oval. groove to into which latter the locking lever g will enter after having passed through the boring in the lock disc 6 so that the load is taken from the link of the locking lever g and the lever proper is then only subjected to the stress of shearing. Therope pulley. 0, is

cylindrical and its flanges d are made less heavy by means of borings c, w designates Reefing is effected in that the lockin lever g is moved to the front, then a pul is exerted uponthe rope n, that can be increased in proportion to the size of the sail by means of pulleys. Considering that it is easily possible in ships to shift a pulley be effected for instance from the seat of the helms man, by which a sometimes dangerous working on the mast is avoided. Since levers and cranks are dispensed with and since for the reefing work only a simple pulley is required, the taking in of reefs V to any desired spot of the ship, reefing can I even in large sails is elfected with extraor dinary speed and ease. It is also possible to take in reefs easily both whilethe ship is sailing by the wind and before the wind, that is to say while the boom is veered out totally, since the levers and cranks of known devices are omitted. The manipulation of such levers and cranks is often impossible while the ship is sailing before the wind on account of the rigging ropes being in the Way, quite apart from the fact that the manipulation of the old reefing devices often causes injuries to the hands of the crew in heavy weather, besides being slow. 77

' Afterhaving, taken in the desired reef, the reefing rope is unloaded by placing the locking levers 9 into the borings f and u.

Before taking the reef out of the sail the said locking leveng is tilted to the front and the sail is hoisted to such an extent asi is desired toitake out the sail. During this manipulation the reefing rope n will simultaneously be reeled upon the rope-pulley and is prevented from slipping off by the abutting ring m.

As the bearing of the boom in respect of the jerky aXial and radial thrust is effected practically without any friction, for the reefing work only the weight of the sail proper is to be considered and as such weight naturally is very slight, especially in a! ship sailed by one hand it is possible for the helm s manito do the reefing work in a quick and easy manner, without leaving the helm.

I claim:

1. A reefing device comprising apivoted axle, a pulley thereon having a rope groove therein, an anti-friction bearing within'the pulley and surrounding the axle and a protecting ring covering the pulley groove and means for supporting said ring.

2. A reefing device comprising a pivoted axle, a pulley having a rope groove therein, an antiefriction bearing within the pulley and surrounding the axle, a protecting ring covering the pulley groove, a stirrup supporting said ring and a latch carried" by said stirrup and arranged to engage and latch said pulley. N

3. A reefing device comprisinga pivoted axle, an anti-friction bearing mounted on the free end of the latter, a flanged pulley mounted on the bearing, an annular plate surrounding the axle and fixed to the side of the pulley, said plate having a lateral stepped portion formed with peripheral apertures, a locking member mounted on the axle adapted to engage said apertures, a boom support carried by the pulley, and a flexible member surrounding the pulley for rotating the latter.

4. A reeling device comprising an axle,

a flanged pulley rotatably mounted thereon,

plate fixed on one side of the pulley having a perforated flanged portion, a looking member pivoted on the axle adapted to engage the perforations ofsaid flanged portion, a boom support mounted on the other side of the pulley, and a rope wound on the pulley for rotating the same. W

5. A reefing device comprising a pivoted axle, a flanged pulley rotatably mounted thereon, an annular plate surrounding the axle fixed to one side of the'pulley and having a flanged portion provided with peripheral perforations, a bolt projecting through the axle, a locking lever pivoted to the bolt and adapted to engage said peripheral perforations, a perforated guide ring surrounding the pulley, a support for the ring mounted on said bolt, a boom support fixed to the other side of the pulley, and a. rope wound on the pulley for rotating the latter.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

GOTTFRIED BEGAS. 

